Seeking better terms: Fadillah (centre) greeting participants at the social security management conference in Kuching. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: The Opposition should come up with fresh recommendations for the memorandum of understanding (MOU) on allocations for its MPs, says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the current MOU draft, which was the basis for discussions with the Opposition, had been rejected by the latter recently.
“If they want a new draft, then they have to give us their feedback.
“But they have already made a statement rejecting the MOU, so we accept their decision,” he told reporters after opening a conference on social security management here yesterday.
Fadillah added that Perikatan Nasional had yet to contact him to further discuss the matter.
Last Sunday, Opposition chief Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said Perikatan unanimously rejected the draft MOU because it appeared to be in conflict with the Federal Constitution, particularly its impact on Malay and bumiputra special rights.
In response to this, Fadillah released two drafts of the MOU a day later, noting that it clearly spelt out the government’s obligations in recognising the important role played by Opposition MPs.
The draft stated that the role played by the Opposition MPs must be displayed through loyalty to the country, the Federal Constitution and royal institution as well as acting as a responsible and legitimate check and balance.
On Wednesday, Perikatan chief whip Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan called on the government to prepare a new MOU draft, including setting up a special committee to discuss it.
Takiyuddin said the Opposition would not move forward with any discussion on constituency-based allocations as long as it was based on the current draft.
Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail slammed the Opposition for rejecting the government’s proposed deal on equal funding via the mass media instead of negotiating for better terms with the government.
Saifuddin, who is also Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, said previous negotiations between the then Opposition and the administration under former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob saw both sides engaged in discussion.
“Negotiations went through several rounds until both parties agreed on the contents of the MOU.
“As for this MOU? As soon as we received the draft, there was a commotion outside.
“It’s true what Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said – if you choose to talk to the media, then there’s no need to negotiate,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Saifuddin was referring to an MOU signed between Ismail Sabri and several Pakatan leaders in September 2021 to work together in helping the nation’s economic recovery while also restoring political stability during the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The MOU had also included a provision for equal allocations for all MPs.
On a separate matter, Fadillah said government service providers should harness new technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), to better the social security delivery system for the rakyat.
He said the use of AI could improve the speed and efficiency of aid distribution by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso).
